The Screen Version of Fannie Hurst's 'Imitation of Life,' at the Roxy -- 'College Rhythm.'

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Since a candid examination of Fannie Hurst's "Imitation of Life" will only force this unpleasant department to label it the most shameless tearjerker of the Fall, let us proceed to an objective report on the latest of the cinemized social histories of America's favorite philosopher. "Imitation of Life" is a dignified and sober dramatic chronicle which proceeds on its earnest way for almost two hours. The stentorian sobbing of the ladies in the Roxy mezzanine yesterday seemed to suggest that it held a vast appeal for the matinee trade as well as for Miss Hurst's large and commercially attractive public. On the whole the audience seemed to find it a gripping and powerful if slightly diffuse drama which discussed the mother love question, the race question, the business woman question, the mother and daughter question and the love renunciation question. Of these the race question promised to be the most interesting, but the photoplay was content to suggest that the sensitive daughter of a Negro woman is bound to be unhappy if she happens to be able to pass for white.The drama defies brief synopsis, but in general is the success story of Bea Pullman, a young widow with a cunning small daughter. Early in the film she hires an amiable Negro maid, Aunt Delilah, who also owns a small daughter. Inspired by Aunt Delilah's wonderful pancakes Mrs. Pullman opens a flapjack shoppe on the boardwalk. She does so well with it that after a few years Aunt Delilah's pancake flour is a national best-seller. At an early age Aunt Delilah's little girl begins to be sad because her efforts to fraternize with the whites are always frustrated by the appearance of her very dark mother. Growing up, she runs away from school and finally breaks with her mother completely, returning finally to participate in the orgiastically tearful funeral of Aunt Delilah, who has died of a broken heart.Meanwhile Mrs. Pullman has her own troubles. After her grinding years of business she wishes to enjoy the luxury of wedded happiness with Stephen Archer. Just before the ceremony she discovers that her grown-up daughter is also in love with him. Rather than hurt the girl she sends Stephen away.Despite the sincerity of John M. Stahl's direction, he scarcely manages to conceal the shallowness of the play's ideas, the commonplace nature of its emotions, nor the rubber-stamp quality of its writing. Claudette Colbert plays the leading rôle with her usual charm and intelligence, and she enjoys the capable assistance of Louise Beavers as Aunt Delilah and Warren William as the latter-day fiancé. For humor there are Ned Sparks and Henry Armetta, and for additional sentiment the two child actors.

A version of this review appears in print on November 24, 1934 of the National edition with the headline: The Screen Version of Fannie Hurst's 'Imitation of Life,' at the Roxy -- 'College Rhythm.'. Order Reprints|Today's Paper|Subscribe